MO unemployment drops to five-year low

Missouri's November unemployment rate dropped to 6.1 percent, its lowest point since August 2008. The state's rate registered at 6.5 percent in October.

Lower than the national rate for the 51st consecutive month, the state's November jobless rate decrease was aided by nonfarm payroll employment growth of 15,000 new jobs, according to a Missouri Department of Economic Development news release.

Since November 2012, nonfarm payroll unemployment has risen by 48,100 jobs.

Last month, the U.S. jobless rate improved to 7 percent from 7.3 percent in October. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the Springfield metropolitan statistical area unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a point to 4.7 percent in October, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.